Bending threshold and release for a flexible display device
A flexible display device and a method for accurately recognizing a user's flex input bending of the flexible display device is described. The present invention is able to discard unintentional flexing of the flexible display device while being able to accurately recognize a user's intended flex input command based on a number of bending degree thresholds. A first bending threshold must be overcome in order to initially recognize a user's flex input as a valid flex input command. Then the user's flex input must fall below a second bending threshold in order to cease the recognition of the user's flex input as a valid flex input.
1. A method for detecting a bend on a flexible display device, the method comprising:
detecting a first bend on the flexible display device and measuring a first degree of the first bend;
recognizing the first bend as a first valid flex input when the measured first degree of bend surpasses a first error threshold value; and
recognizing an end of the first valid flex input when the measured first degree of bend falls below a first release threshold value,
wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, and
wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display device is bent and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first error threshold value is determined by adding a predetermined number of units to the degree before the flexible display is bent.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the first peak value.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first release threshold value is greater than the first error threshold value.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first release threshold value is equal to a percentage of the first error threshold value.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a second bend on the flexible display device following the end to the first valid flex input, and measuring a second degree of bend due to the second bend;
recognizing the second bend as a second valid flex input when the measured second degree of bend surpasses a second error threshold value, and
recognizing an end to the second valid flex input when the measured second degree of bend falls below a second release threshold value.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined time following the end to the first valid flex input.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input ends within a predetermined time following the end to the first valid flex input.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where the second bend begins.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the second peak value.
15. A flexible display device having at least one flexible portion, comprising:
a display unit configured to display visual information;
a sensing unit configured to measure a degree of bend; and
a system controller configured to recognize a first bend as a first valid flex input when a first degree of bend surpasses a first error threshold value, and to recognize an end to the first valid flex input when the first degree of bend falls below a first release threshold value,
wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, and
wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display is bent and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value.
16. The flexible display device of claim 15 , wherein the first error threshold value is determined by adding a predetermined number of units to the degree before the flexible display is bent.
17. The flexible display device of claim 15 , wherein the first release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the first peak value.
18. The flexible display device of claim 15 , wherein the first release threshold value is greater than the first error threshold value.
19. The flexible display device of claim 15 , wherein the first release threshold value is equal to a percentage of the first error threshold value.
20. The flexible display device of claim 15 , wherein:
the sensing unit is further configured to detect a second bend on the flexible portion following the end to the first valid flex input, and measure a second degree of bend due to the second bend, and
the system controller is further configured to recognize the second bend as a second valid flex input when the measured second degree of bend surpasses a second error threshold value, and also recognize an end to the second valid flex input when the measured second degree of bend falls below a second release threshold value.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined time following the end to the first valid flex input.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input ends within a predetermined time following the end to the first valid flex input.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where the second bend begins.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value.
27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value.
28. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the second peak value.